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Trial in fatal Coldstream pedestrian accident begins

The trial of a man accused of hitting a woman with his vehicle as she walked to work at night along Aberdeen Road in Coldstream in April 2010 began Monday in Vernon Supreme Court.

Chase Garett Donaldson pleaded not guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death and one count of failing to stop at an accident causing bodily harm in connection with the death on April 30, 2010 of Kiera-Leigh Carlson, 22.

Carlson had been walking on the proper side of the street to her job at a Vernon nightclub that evening when it's alleged she was struck by a car. Her body was discovered the next morning near the offices of the Regional District of North Okanagan.

The case is being heard solely in front of Supreme Court judge Frank Cole.

Proceedings began Monday morning with Donaldson entering the not guilty pleas.

Crown lawyer Iain Currie called two witnesses, Dave and Beth Regehr of Coldstream, who were driving home from dinner that night.

Dave Regehr, the driver, and his wife, Beth, testified they turned right onto Aberdeen Road from Highway 6 and saw a car cross the centre line into their lane, and that Dave Regehr swerved into the northbound lane to avoid a collision with the vehicle.